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When James Durham recorded 94 at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1767, he set a course record that lasted 86 years. Golf: A curious sport whose object is to put a very small ball in a very small hole with implements ill desiged for the purpose - Sir Winston Churchill
You're not ever going to limit the advantage of knowing the course, but you CAN limit the advantage of knowing how the course is setup/playing in the weeks before the tourney and there can be big differences.
I don't think anybody should be allowed to play the course within the weeks leading up to the event and all players should be given the same standard practice rounds during the first part of the week.
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"Support the On Plane Swinging Force in Balance"
"we have no friends, we have no enemies, we have only teachers"
Simplicity buffs, see 5-0, 1-L, 2-0 A and B 10-2-B, 4-D, 6B-1D, 6-B-3-0-1, 6-C-1, 6-E-2
Maybe Course Knowledge is overrated? Know Thyself.
Johnny Miller said: "Ben Hogan must be rolling over in his grave", and "I thought this was supposed to be a precision game?" Memorable commentary from the 'Yipper'.
Paralysis by analysis, Lynn should know this better than anyone because he is in (was) the financial world as i am.
Sometimes you can just have too much information and that goes for practice well.
But the key is doing what is SMART with that information and making the CORRECT DECISION. What good was all Phil's (or Rick/Dave's) work for if he wasn't smart enough to pull out the 4 wood for so many holes today?
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I'm not a TGM or PGA certified Pro, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night
On one hand, knowing the spots to hit doesn't guarantee anything - you still have to hit them....
On the other, knowing the spots to hit is very important - even lets say that knowledge might only give you a shot or two - that may be the margin that wins championships.....
After just listening to Phil's interview Jim's paralysis by analysis comment rings even more true. I think Phil's extraordinary preparation actually put more pressure on him down the stretch. I HAVE TO DO IT! If I don't, all this hard work is for naught. I wouldn't be surprised if other cultures feel this way, we must be rewarded for our efforts, but I know it is pervasive in the American culture. I know I certainly practice it, and you would think golf could teach me to drop it!
Let’s not lose sight of the forest for the trees. Golf is played by one person, one shot at a time.
Tour Players are a special breed of Golfer. Extraordinary talent and monumental efforts are part of their make-up but their profound drive to win is their Master Attribute. The talent, course scouting, coaching and physical conditioning are subordinate.
Phil M. demonstrated the will to win on every shot he made whether good or bad. He demonstrated Sportsmanship through till the end. You can’t ask anymore of anyone. His performance was the very definition of Competitor. I’m glad to have witnessed that exhibition and have gain something myself because of it.
Looking back on this experience, maybe his Course Scouting did more harm than good. Maybe, through too much preparation, something inside you gets tempered? Maybe his situational analysis and his normal response; grinding it out, being creative, stay in play, have been fuddled by a playbook and forethought out scenarios outlining “what you’ll shoot today” on each and every hole. Without the Playbook, he may have walked up the eighteenth fairway at ten under. Only ONE person gets handed a trophy. Maybe he’ll think that it’s not such a team sport after all. (Well, unless Yoda is on the team)
Phils preparations may have given him the second place, but it did not give him the win.
In the end the ability to hit fairways and greens counted, and Phil had it going terribly wrong by hitting only 2 fairways - although he hit irons on two holes.
On the final hole Phil hit his bread-and-butter major go-to baby cut. Did not hit the fairway. Did not hit the green. Did not even hit the green after 4 shots.
And Monty. All the work was done. In the middle of the fairway. On the last hole. Hit the green and putt twice for THE WIN. Or take a bogey for a playoff.
It went horribly wrong.
Quote:
- What kind of shot is that?
I have never seen golf being as cruel as yesterday.
Phil and Monty could have lived with bogeys on the last hole. But the fact that both double-bogeyed is just horrible.
Two guys desperate for the win. Two guys already with multiple runner-ups in the US Open. Not about the money. All about finally hoping to see some hard work pay off. Or at least seeing someone elses hard work paying off.
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When James Durham recorded 94 at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1767, he set a course record that lasted 86 years. Golf: A curious sport whose object is to put a very small ball in a very small hole with implements ill desiged for the purpose - Sir Winston Churchill
Phils preparations may have given him the second place, but it did not give him the win.
In the end the ability to hit fairways and greens counted, and Phil had it going terribly wrong by hitting only 2 fairways - although he hit irons on two holes.
On the final hole Phil hit his bread-and-butter major go-to baby cut. Did not hit the fairway. Did not hit the green. Did not even hit the green after 4 shots.
And Monty. All the work was done. In the middle of the fairway. On the last hole. Hit the green and putt twice for THE WIN. Or take a bogey for a playoff.
It went horribly wrong.
I think that's what prompted Johnny Miller's comments. Don't lose sight of some basic fundamentals: Hit the Fairways, G.I.R., never be short on a Birdie Putt, Go for birdie but protect par, go for par but protect bogey, no double bogeys.
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I have never seen golf being as cruel as yesterday.
You haven't seen me play. And I don't get a half-million.
What a tourney! I absolutely loved the way they set up this course.
It's time for another maketing campaign, this one entitled -"What in the HELL did Phil do?" Did anyone see Frank Nobilo go down on the course to recreate the shot? Phil had no second shot. It's not like he just mis-hit it. Monty mis-hit his approach to 18, Furyk mis-hit a putt on 15. But Phil tried to do something ridiculously impossible. A 1/1000 attempt. AND he mis-hit it to boot. It's easy to bash Phil on Monday morning, I guees. But man he really blew it.
Props to Olgivy! Parred the last 4 holes with some stellar shots. He WON it.
And I don't get a half-million. 
Hybrid Mode
